Insulator support socket for fluorescent light tubes



J. D. JESSUP Nov. 26, 1957 INSULATOR SUPPORT SOCKET FOR FLUORESCENT LIGHT TUBES Filed Aug. 4, 1955 vJacob D. Jessup IN VEN TOR.

United States PatentO INSULATOR SUPPORT SOCKET FOR FLUORESCENT LIGHT TUBES Jacob D. Jessup, Wichita Falls, Tex., assignor to Wayland D. Keith, Wichita Falls, Tex.

Application August 4, 1953, Serial No. 372,313

4 Claims. (Cl. 339-52) This invention relates to an insulator support socket for fluorescent light tubes, and particularly to a socket for utilizing fluorescent tubes for illumination, after the normal useful life thereof, as fluorescent lights has been spent.

Various gas filled tube lights, such as fluorescent lights that have a filament, such as bi-pin fluorescent lights which utilize a filament and a starter to initially heat the gas so as to place it in proper conductivity form, are now in use. The normal life of such tubes depends greatly on the number of starts of the fluorescent light, as it is primarily the starting of these lights that causes the greatest deterioration of the filament and governs or determines the life of such tubes as normal fluorescent lights.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to discard as useless, such tubes when the filaments thereof ceased to function.

In the present invention, a socket has been devised whereby these tubes, which have ceased to function as fluorescent lights, can be simply and effectively connected in end to end relation and subjected to high voltage, whereby a multiplicity of these tubes can be illuminated with satisfactory brilliance over a long period of time.

An object of this invention is to provide a tube support socket that will securely support the spent fluorescent tubes therein so they may be connected electrically in end to end relation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tube support socket which will hold the tubes in a fixed relation so all exposed contact portions thereof will be covered by insulation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tube support socket, the covering of which may be quickly attached and detached to permit the insertion or removal of the tubes therefrom.

With these objects in mind and others that will manifest themselves as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tube support socket member and cover therefor;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the tube support socket member showing the cover and one tube element in place;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and showing a fragmentary end portion of two fluorescent bi-pin tubes in dashed outline;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a connector contact clip removed from the socket support member, and

Fig. 5 is a modified form of the socket showing how the tubes are connected together at right angles.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral 11 designates generally a socket member which is adapted to receive a cap generally designated at 12, so as to hold the fluorescent tube, generally designated at 13, securely, which tube and connections are insulated so as to prevent leakage of electricity to the member on ice which the socket is mounted. The socket member 11 has a base 14 which is of suitable insulating material, such as plastic, hard rubber, porcelain, glass or the like. The base 14 has holes 15 formed therein to enable the socket member to be secured to a mounting strip, building, or the like. A stem, which is made of the same insulating material as the baseand is integral therewith, and is designated at 16, extends upward from the socket member 11 and has a semi-cylindrical tube receiving member 17, of'the same insulating material, on the upper end thereof.

A pair of ribs 18, of the same insulating material, are formed integral with the stem and base and form a brace for the semi-cylindrical member 17. An insulating projection 19 is mounted mediate the sides of the semi-cylindrical member 17 and has a connector clip 20 secured on the top thereof by a screw 21. The connector clip 20 has upstanding prongs 22 that form U-shaped sockets to receive the pins of bi-pin tubes generally designated at 13. The pairs of upstanding prongs 22 on each side of the clip are spaced apart so a ground wire may be connected to the screw 21, which ground wire may pass between the upstanding prongs 22 and out through a hole 23 which is formed in the side of the semi-cylindrical member 17, so as to enable the utilization of the socket to give a midpoint ground substantially as shown in Fig. 7, or other electrical connection.

The semi-cylindrical portion 17 is concave and is of such size as to receive the particular tubes that are being used therein. The longitudinal edges have out-turned lips 24 at each end thereof that are adapted to complementarily engage with in-turned lip 25 formed along each of the longitudinal edges on the cap member 12. A notch 27 is formed mediate each longitudinally aligned pair of ribs 24, which notch is adapted to complementarily receive the rib 28 formed mediate the length of the cap 12, which ribs prevent relative longitudinal movement of the cap and the semi-cylindrical member 17. A spring 29 is secured to the cap 12 by means of a screw 30 mediate the sides and longitudinally spaced mediate the ends so that the spring will engage the sides of the tubes 13 to hold the pins 13a of the respective tubes 13 securely within U-sockets of the clip 20, as will best be seen in dashed outline in Fig. 3.

It is to be pointed out that the base 14, stem 16, semicylindrical member 17,. ribs 18, and projections 19 are preferably formed integral of a single piece of material such as plastic, phenolic resin, hard rubber, porcelain, glass or other suitable insulating material and that the cap 12 is formed of the same suitable insulating material,

and that the cap will complementarily engage the bottom portion 11, which is sufliciently resilient so that when pressed downward, the sloping edges of the in-turned lip 25 will complementan'ly engage the out-turned lip 24. The slope on the respective lips is such that they may be pressed together easily, but will require a tool for the removal of the cap, thereby providing a sufliciently tight fitting cover to prevent accidental misplacement of the cap, and the cap has sufficient insulating properties to prevent leakage of electricity therethrough, as might cause injury to one coming in contact with the device.

The socket and cap members 11-12, as shown in Figs. 1 through 4, enables tubes 13 to be joined in axial alignment.

The type of socket member, as shown in Pig. 5 is similar in all respects to the socket as shown in Figs. 1 through 4, except it is so arranged as to enable the tubes 13 to be joined at an angle other than a straight angle. The socket ilustrated shows the tubes 13 to be joined at a ninety degree angle, however this is merely illustrative, and it is to be understood that the tubes may be joined at any desired angle.

In this form of the device, the socket member is designated generally. by the. numeral31, andhas. acap. 3. The. socket member 31 has a base 34, a stem 36, a concave semi-cylindrical member 37 and upstanding projections 39,, withinithe :concaye semi-cylindrical,- memher, 317;. whitlhrprojectionsreeeiye a-clip.-memben-4.0. thereeni. e com ponent parts. 34, 15.6,,3f/Y and 39; are made; of: a; suitable: insulating; material, similar.- to; the socket as; described; above. Holes. 35- are formed in each; side: of. the; base 34,,which. enables; the securing; of the; socket member to; a. mounting: strip or to; at. building or; the; like, in; the same. manner'asforthe above.- described socket. Ribs 38 are providedon. the; stem; 36,. which, ribs. are also; joined; to the-base 3.4 andtQ-the; semiecylindrical;membeneir The. clip, 40.: is secured inplace. by means. of screws 41; and the upstanding: projections 42: together: with the downturned sides: of clip. 40. form: Uesockets to: receive thebipins; li anfzthe; respectiveiubes; 1B; .whichprojections-preferably. press: inwardly to, resiliently engage; the; pins: so; as to; make; asecure: contact to. prevent arcing: on burning. oh the; clip. Av hole 43. is. provided in. the: side: of; the; semi-cylindrical; member- 37: to enable. a; ground wireto be. passed; therethrough and secured. beneathone of? the screws.- so asto enable. the; socket to.- be used asza mid-point ground. in thecircuitiassh0wn:,in Fig. 7.,

'lshesemi-cylindricalt member 37 has an out-turned lip 44. formed on the. upper edges to. complementarily. en: gage. an inturnedilip' 45 formedon thelower edge. oh the cap 32.. A notch 47fiS-fOIII16d between; lip 444: on each. side thereof to receive a rib 48 therebetween: so as to. prevent relative movement between. the. cap. 32; and; the semi-cylindrical member 37. A spring 49'is secured tothe cover 321so-as-to holdthefluorescent tube 13. securely within=the socketsof theclip 40.

If so'desired, an annular resilient gasketR'maybexfittedz in each inner end of each: of: thesockets toexclude. moistune from entering the sockets 31:- -32. to. use the sockets withinthe circuits illustrated in Figs.

6- and 7, and although one pin. is sufficient to: serve as.

an electrode orv conductor: intothe tube, the sockets described above enable both pins to be. securely. mounted in place and in event one is defective, the: other will.

automatically serve as an electrode, or if both pins pro.- videconductivity of electricity into the tube, each: will serve as anelectrode' with substantially the same degreeof efiiciency as: a single electrode.-

While the invention has been described in some detail:

bothfor-mounting the-tubes in end toend relation longitudinally-or at an angle with=respect to each other, it istobe understood thatchangesmayv be madein the minor details ofconstruction-without departing trom the spirit It. is preferable 1... insulator. support. socket for. bi-pin fluorescent.

light tubes, comprising a base, a stem rising from said base, a body on the upper end of said stem, which body has an upwardly facing recess formed therein, a metallic, pin-receiving clip mounted on said body within said recess and receiving both pins oi said. tubes in electrical short circuit relation, a cap compl'ementarily engageable with said body, formaintaining saidtubes within. saidv recess, and a spring .InQun eiin-saifd capior; resiliently maintaining said. cap. on said body.

2. An insulator. support. socket for adjacent ends of a pair of bi-pin fluorescent light tubes comprising a base, a stemrising. fromlsaidabase, an,open end semi-cylindrical body on the upper. end. of said stem, which body has a unitary, metallic conductor element therein comprising a clip having a pair of upwardly facing recesses formed therein and spaced apart and receiving two pairs of bipin: fluoresc nt lamp ermin l; p ns: in; inverse. en o end electrical. short circuit; relation, and acapngember adapted to complementarily engage: said; support socket; for maintaining said; tubes within the recesses of. said conductor.

3. An insulator support socket for bi-pin fluorescent.

light. tube s,. comprising; a base, a stern. rising from said base; a bodyon;the-uppen end'of said stem and having;

an; upwardly facing recessformed therein of less than a-. straight. angle, av one-piece metallic member mounted lighty tubes. comprising; a. base, a1stemi rising. from. said base, a: semi%cylindrical:body mounted on the upper end of the stem, said body having an upwardly facingrecess formed! therein Qf'j" less; than a. straight-1 angle, a one-piece metallicrpinrreceiving clip mounted on said: body within said-recess;andxhaving at leasttwobentarms forming pinreceiving sockctsanribeiug adapted to receive. both pins of' saidtubesiin electricalishort;circuit relation, and a complementaryscap. detachably. secured: to said body for maintaining said; tubes within said: recess.

References,- Cited, in. the file of. this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 851,685 Moore Apr. 30, 1907 1,700,344. White. Jan. 29, 1929 2,056,619 Reger ct a1; Oct. 6, 1936 2,120,121 Wiegand. June 7-, 1938 2,295,757 Russell Sept. 15, 1942 2,410,364 Rosenthal Oct. 29, 1946 2,441,929 Burt May 18, 1948 

